Simon, Badger appeal to Sen. Flake for gun violence reform

Members of "Organizing for America" want Flake to take a stronger stance on gun control.

The group supports expanded background checks and restrictions on high-capacity weapons.

The rally starts at 10 a.m. outside Flake's office on north Oracle Road.

The following is release from the group holding the gun violence protest:

TUCSON - On Wednesday, August 21st, OFA-AZ volunteers will be holding a gun violence prevention event in Tucson to tell Sen. Jeff Flake that they won't stop fighting to protect our children and protect our communities.

After Newtown, the American people demanded action to help prevent future gun violence. With 9 in 10 Americans supporting expanded background checks, Senators Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey, a Democrat and a Republican, each with 'A' ratings from the NRA, crafted a commonsense bill to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. But when that bill came to a vote, an obstructive minority of Senators voted to appease special interests instead of representing their constituents.

Gun violence prevention supporters have not forgotten about Sandy Hook or Aurora, Tucson or Virginia Tech, and they won't let leaders in Washington forget that they can act to make our communities safer. With overwhelming support from the American people for commonsense legislation to keep guns out of dangerous hands, and on the heels of those unthinkable tragedies, what will it take for Sen. Jeff Flake to take action?

Organizing for Action (OFA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing the policies that the American people voted for in 2012. In just six months, more than 3.1 million volunteers have taken action through Organizing for Action. As a grassroots funded social advocacy group, OFA is committed to tipping the scales of power back to the American people instead of special interests in Washington. OFA is working to advance policies like job creation, strengthening the middle class, gun violence prevention, comprehensive immigration reform and measures combating climate change that a majority of the American people support. More information at www.barackobama.com